Oil well control



E. MARLER OIL WELL CONTROL Oct. 25, 1932.

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 'Jan. 5, 1932 Inventor .234 Mar/62 g fig f1 llomey OCL ZS, 1932. MARLER 1,884,040'

OIL WELL CONTROL Filed Jan. 5, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Oct. 25, 1932. E MARLER 1,884,040

OIL WELL CONTROL Filed Jan. 5, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor Oct. 25, 1932. MARLER 1,884,040

Filed Jan. 5, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 7% /.9 Pay? 1 3/ W k Y Z! E. MARLER Oct. 25, 1932.

OIL WELL CONTROL Filed Jan. 5, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 25, 1932 EVA. MARI-ER, OF OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNOR IO OSCAR JOHN GRACE AND ESTELLA. F. GRACE, BOTH OF OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA OIL WELL CONTROL Application filed January 5, 1932. Serial No. 584,843.

This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in means for controlling oilwells and more particularly to a novel machine whereby oil or gas flow can be controlled in a quick, convenient and effective manner.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a machine wherein a wild oil well can be shut off in a minimum length of time and without endangering the lives of those working in the operation.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a shut-off device for flowing oil; wells, and'means whereby the said shut-off device can be operated remotely in a directionlaterally of the well.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specification,

In the drawings Figure 1 represents a side elevational view of'fthe apparatus in its entirety.

Fig. 2 represents a horizontal sectional view through the carrier with certain parts removed to disclose the adjustable truck.

Fig. 3 represents a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the means for actuating the well stopper device.

Fig. 1 represents a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the truck.

Fig. 5 represents an enlarged vertical sectional view through the means connecting the truck to the chassis.

, Fig. 6 represents a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through one of the extensible rods.

Fig. 7 represents a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the stopper operating means.

Fig. 8 represents a top plan view of the cross member of the stopper operating means.

Fig. 9 represents a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the stopper device in an oil well casing.

Fig. 10 represents a fragmentary vertical sectional viewthrough the wedge-shaped expander.

Fig. 11 represents atop plan view of the packing ring. I

Fig. 12 represents a cross sectional View taken substantially on line 12- 12 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 18 represents a cross sectlonal view of the screw head of the stopper device.

Fig. 14 represents a side elevational view of the packing ring.

Fig. 15 represents a cross sectional view of the anchor. a

Referring-to the drawings wherein like numerals designatelike parts, it can be seen that the machine involves three main features consisting of the stopper device, generally referred to by numeral 5; the stopper operating mechanism generally referred to by numeral 6, and the transporting machine generally referredto by numeral 7.

First taking up the description of the stopper device 5, attention is directed particularly to Figs. 1, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. In Fig. 9, it will be observed that numeral 8 denotes an oil well easing into which the stopper device 5 is to be inserted. The stopper device includes a spear head 9, the lower portion a of which is tapered conically, while the upper portion 6 is cylindrical and has the bore 10 extending longitudinally therein to merge with the diametrically disposed bore 11 opening through opposite sides of the spear head 9.

Complemental to this spear head 9 is the anchor 12 which is generally of cylindrical shape, but divided into four (more or less) longitudinally extending sections 0, d, e, and f. These sections 0 to f inclusive have their opposed sides formed with recesses 13 in each of which is an eye 14%, and between complementary eyes are connected the springs 15, which obviously serve to tensionally connect the sections together in the cylindrical formation obviously necessary to prevent disposition into the oil well casing 8.

This anchor 12 has a longitudinally extending bore 16 therein and the upper ends of the sections 0 to f inclusive are bevelled as at 17 while their outer sides are provided with ratchet-like ribs 18 capable of biting into the inner side of the oil well casing 8 and in the manner substantially shown in Fig. 9.

The third element of importance in this stopper device is the packing ring shown Fig. 9, that the flare ofthis ring is in the nature of a bevel both on the top and bottom sides of the disk, so that the upper andlower ends of the screw head 9 and anchor 12 respectively, can ride against this ringportion 2 4 when contracted to expand this particular portion of the packing ring against the inner side of the casing 8 to prevent obviously, upward flow of oil or gas in the casing.

To effect this binding disposition of the packing ring, a cylindricalshaped expander is employed and is tapered at its lower end to engage the beveled inner side of the sections of the anchor 12. The upper end of this expander merges with the lower end of the elongated tube 26 which is substantially less in diameter than the expander 25, and is'provided with a longitudinally extending smooth rack 27.

i The expander 25 is provided with a longitudinally extending threaded bore 28 for receiving the threaded portion 29 of the elongated control rod 30 which extends longitudinally through the tube 26 and longitudinally through the an-' chor 12 and spear head 9, as well as through the'packing disk 19. The'lower end of this rod 30 is secured by the collar 31 and pin 32 vto the spear head 9, the collar and pin being located at the lower end of the bore 10 and within the bore 11. (See Fig. 9).

Obviously, when the rod 30 is rotated in a given direction, the expander 25 will be urged against the beveled ends of the anchor sections at the same time an upward pull is H exerted on the spear head 9. In this manner,

the contraction of the spear head 9 and anchor 12 will expand the packing ring against the casing 8 while the ratchet-like ribs 18 are'biting into the casing to anchor the packing ring in the shown in Fig. 9.

Referring now particularly to Figs. '1, 3, 8, and 12, it can be seen that the aforementioned tube 26 extends upwardly through the barrel 33, which at its upper end supports the shaft 34 carrying a gear 35 which meshes with the rack 27 on the tube 26. The barrel 33 is provided with trunnicns 3636 extending in opposite directions, and these have their ends journaled in the bearings 37, which bearings are" supported by the uprights 38 at the end of the transporting machine generally referred to by numeral 7. One of the trunnions 36 has a gear 38 secured thereto and with which the worm 39 position substantially As is clearly shown in Fig; 3, the upper end of the tube 26 is reduced and disposed through an opening 42 at the intermediate portion ofthe cross member 43. Each end of this cross member .43 is provided with anape'rtured ear44'and as is clearly shown" in Fig. 3, the upper end of the'rod 30 which extends longitudinally thru the tube 26 is provided with a reduced extension 45 of polygonal shape in cross section for slidable disposition through a correspondingly shaped opening in the gear 46,-which gear is supported against the upper end of the tube 526 bythe bracket 47, where it is con stantly in; mesh withthe worm gear 48 carried by theshaft 49 which is supported by the means 50.

Each of the gears 44 is providedwith a ring 51 and "from each of these rings 51 ex tends a sprocket chain 52which are trained under the sprocket wheels 53, which are supported at the forward end ofthe chassis frame 54 of the transporting machine; 7.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 7, the-:cross member 43 is secured to the tube 26'by a set,

screw 55.

The transporting machine 7 includes the aforementioned chassis frame 54, the aforementioned forward post 38'and the rear 0st 56, as well as intermediate posts 57 w ich are connected by the rails 58.- The chassis frame 54 is supported by a two-wheel truck, and as is shown in Fig. 22, this truck includes a frame 59which supports the transversely extending shafts 60 carrying at their ends, the rollers 61 for riding engagement with the under sidesof the chassisframe bars gandkf-" The frame 59 is connected to the axle 62 b the semi-elliptical springs 68-63 and as shown in Fig.- 4, the axle 62 is provided with thetired wheels 64 64. As is apparent in F ig; '5, the bars 9 and h of the frame 54 are of I-type, and guide units are provided on the truck for engagement with these bars.

Each of these guide units or assemblies-con sists of a pair of bracket members 6566 each provided with" a converging extension for engagement with the lower flange of the corresponding bars 9 or it, these arms being secured to a boss or block 67 on the name. 59 in the case of the arm 66, and in the case of the arm 65, directly to the frame 59. ,Thus the truck is positively connected in a slidable manner to the chassis frame 54. i 1 A cable 68 connects to the rear end-of the truck, whereby the tru ck' can-be pulled rearwardly, while a cable 69 connects to the forward end of the truck and ishtrained over a forwardly located pulley 70 on the machine 7 to extend rearwardly, whereby the truck can be moved forwardly.

Obviously, the cables 68 and 69 extend to a remote point, where they can be optionally operated to move the truck in the desired direction. Furthermore, a suitable coupling 71 connects the machine 7 to a tractor or the like, whereby the machine can be easily moved from one point to another.

The rear end portion of the machine 7 is provided with the guides 7 2 for rotatably supporting the shafts 7 374 and 75. The shaft 7 3 is connected by the universal joint 7 6 to the shaft 77, which in turn is connected by the universal joint 78 to the worm shaft 49, whereby the rod of the stopper operating mechanism can be controlled.

The shaft 7 4 sticks by the universal joint 78 to the shaft 34, whereby the gear to be actuated to move the aforementioned tube 26, whereby the stopper device can be elevated or lowered with respect to the casing 8.

The shaft 75 is connected at its forward end by the universal joint 79 to the shaft bearing the worm 89 and obviously by actuating this worm 39, the barrel 33 can be tilted to the desired position for insertion of the stopper 5 into the well casing 8.

Cables 80 connect to the lower ends of the sprocket chains 52, and obviously, these cables 80 can be connected to suitable means whereby considerable force can be exerted on the cross member 43 for driving the stopper device 5 into the well casing 8 against the enormous pressure of the issuing of fluids, whether it be oil or gas.

It is to be understood, that any one of the aforementioned shafts and particularly the shaft 7 7 can be of the slip type, consisting of the tubular section it provided with the polygonal-shaped opening extending longitudinally therein, for slidably receiving the polygonal-shaped section L. Such a type of shaft is notoriously old, and is not in itself part of the present invention.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the shafts 7 3, 7 d and 75, as well as the truck control cables 68 and '69, can extend to any remote point away from the machine 7, where the operator for the same will be safely removed from the oil well, which when wild is frequently on fire and cannot be approached.

Furthermore, it is to be understood, that the transporting machine shown in Fig. 7 can be considerably longer than that represented in the drawings, and that various changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to in the construction of this machine, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. A machine of the character described comprising a frame, a truck, means whereby the truck can be adjusted longitudinally beneath the frame, a well closing device, and means on one end of the frame whereby the well closing device can be driven into a well.

2A machine of the character described comprising a frame, a truck, means whereby the truck can be adjusted longitudinally beneath the frame, a well closing device, means on one end of the frame whereby the well closing device can be driven into a well, and remotely controlled means whereby the truck can be adjusted beneath the frame.

3. An oil well stopper device comprising a spear head, an expansible anchor, an expander for the anchor, and expansible packing means between the anchor and the spear head.

4. An oil well stopper device comprising a spear head, an expansible anchor, an expander for the anchor, expansible packing means between the anchor and the spear head, and means for urging the expander against the anchor to expand the anchor and simultaneously to contract the anchor and spear head against the packing.

5. An oil well stopper device comprising a spear head, an expansible anchor, an expander for the anchor, expansible packing means between the anchor and the spear head, means for urging the expander against the anchor to expand the anchor and simultaneously to contract the anchor and spear head against the packing, said packing being provided with a beveled portion against which the anchor and spear head can ride.

6. In combination, an oil well stopper, a tube extending from the stopper, a rack on the tube, a remotely controlled gear meshing with the rack, the lower end of the tube being provided with expanding means, and means on the stopper adapted to be expanded by the said expanding means, a screw threaded rod extending longitudinally through the tube for operating the expanding means, and means at the upper end of the rod whereby the rod can be rotated independently of the tube.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EVA MARLER. 

